U.*5, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

I 

BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE 

A. H. BALDWIN, Chief 

SPECIAL AGENTS SERIES-No. 87 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE 
IN CANNED GOODS 


By 

E. A. THAYER 

t 

Commercial Agent of the Department of Commerce 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1914 




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ADDITIONAL COPIES 

OF THIS PUBLICATION NAY BE PROCURED FROM 
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 

AT 

5 CENTS PER COPY 
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D. OF D, 

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CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Letter of submittal. 4 

Introduction. 5 

Argentina. 6 

Bolivia... 14 

Brazil. 16 

Chile. 19 

Colombia. 21 

Ecuador. 22 

Panama. 24 

Paraguay.✓. 25 

Peru. 27 

Uruguay. 31 

Venezuela. 33 


3 
















LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 


Department of Commerce, 

Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, 

Washington, July 18,191 If.. 

Sir: There is submitted herewith a report by Commercial Agent 
E. A. Thayer on the South American trade in canned goods. The 
report may be considered as supplementary to the monograph 
“Foreign Trade in Canned Goods,” published as Special Consular 
Reports No. 54. 

Respectfully, 

A. H. Baldwin, 

Chief of Bureau. 

To Hon. William C. Redfield, 

Secretary of Commerce. 


4 



SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Annual imports of canned goods in South America amount to about 
$14,000,000 (not including Brazil), of which the United States supplies 
about 18 per cent. The only countries in South America doing a can¬ 
ning business of any importance are Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. 

Argentina cans large and increasing quantities of meats and fruits. 
No extensive canning of vegetables is done at present, but this 
industry will grow. Chile cans fruits, vegetables, shellfish, fish, and 
milk. In 1911 condensed milk was produced valued at $200,750, and 
other canned goods valued at over $3,000,000. Uruguay cans meat 
regularly, but the canning of fruits and pickles is carried on only in 
the years when surplus crops of fresh fruits and vegetables are not 
consumed. 

Argentina, Uruguay, and Ecuador have pure-food laws national in 
effect. Most of the other countries have local ordinances governing 
the inspection of food products in the principal municipalities. 

The heaviest exports of canned goods from the United States to 
South America consisted in 1912 of salmon $609,383, oysters and other 
shell-fish $249,283, butter $157,702, meats $139,103 (a loss compared 
with 1911 of 24 per cent), and fruits $102,044. 

The greatest opportunities for increased trade lie in condensed milk, 
of which the United States supplied $40,031 in 1912 ; vegetables, of 
which the United States supplied $58,530; and canned fish, aside from 
salmon and shellfish, of which the United States supplied $36,718, 
and in which there has been a marked decrease in American imports 
in the past two years. There should also be an opportunity for 
increased trade in fruits, jams, marmalades, pickles, and sauces, 
except possibly in Argentina and Chile. 

No great increases in exports from the United States to South 
America of sardines and other fish may be looked for unless the quality 
of the product can be improved and the tastes of the South Americans 
considered for fish put down in sauces. The consumption in this 
line is very large ana worthy of study by fish canners. 

Fault is found with condensed milk produced in the United States 
on the score of appearance, lumpiness, and spoilage; condensed milk 
of the first quality is furnished more cheaply by Great Britain and 
Switzerland. Unsweetened milk is making some progress where 
known, but further progress will depend largely on missionary work 
and propaganda. 

Canned corn, succotash, and beans are practically unknown in 
South America, and the only way trade can be built up is through a 
regular campaign over a considerable period of time. 

To compete in jams, marmalades, pickles, and sauces, prices must 
be lower for the same quality of goods to meet the competition of 
Great Britain and France. Tastes of long standing would also have 
to be changed. 


5 



6 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


Attention is drawn to the necessity of having trade-marks and 
trade names registered in the different countries of South America. 
This matter should be attended to before any goods are sold, or at 
least before any goods are shipped. 

Attention is called to Special Consular Reports No. 54, entitled 
“ Foreign Trade in Canned Goods/ 7 issued by the Bureau of Foreign 
and Domestic Commerce. Copies of pure-food laws and regulations 
are on file in this Bureau. 

ARGENTINA. 

The total imports of canned goods and olive oil in 1911 amounted 
to $6,771,504, of which the United States furnished $275,382 worth. 
Nearly one-half of the total imports was olive oil, of which the United 
States supplied $122,649 worth. The United States made a gain 
over 1910 of 35 per cent, and yet supplied only 4 per cent of the total 
imports of canned goods and olive oil. Practically all the gain was 
in canned meats and olive oil. 

The principal losses as compared with 1910 were in canned oysters 
and canned fruits. The imports of canned oysters from the United 
States in 1910 amounted to $40,256 and in 1911 to $32,100, and the 
imports of fruits in juice, in sirup, or crystallized, were $12,918 in 
1910 and $2,296 in 1911. 

Some of the other imports and the countries that supplied them 
follow: Condensed milk, $98,463, of which Switzerland supplied 
$79,560 and the United States $33; fish, $516,902, furnished by Italy, 
Spain, France, Great Britain, and the United States in the order 
named, the United States supplying $61,538; sardines, $1,104,898, of 
which amount Spain supplied $853,760 and the United States $16; 
olives in brine, $101,166, of which Spain supplied $99,835; fruit in 
brandy, liquors, natural, or in water, $76,509, mainly from Italy, 
Great Britain, and France, the United States supplying $4,969; 
pickles in glass, $44,869, of which $41,954 worth came from Great 
Britain and $639 worth from the United States; pickles in tin or bar¬ 
rels, $6,346, of which $5,890 worth were from Italy and $5 from the 
United States; mushrooms in tin, $115,578, furnished mainly by 
Italy and France, with $482 from the United States; tomato paste, 
$727,452, of which Italy supplied $702,504 and the United States 
$892; canned soups, $16,297, of which France supplied over one-half 
and the United States $201 worth; canned vegetables, $392,769, sup¬ 
plied chiefly by Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain, the United States 
furnishing $2,678 worth; olive oil, $3,363,026, of which amount Italy 
and Spain supplied over $3,000,000 worth and the United States 
$122,649 worth; and of fruits in juice, in sirup, or crystallized, 
$60,213, supplied principally by France and Great Britain. 

The United States supplied about one-half of the total imports of 
canned meats in 1911, but fresh meat is plentiful and reasonable in 
price, though much higher than formerly, and in addition to this 
Argentina consumes some 300,000 kilos of canned meats of its own 
production. Then, too, canned fish is more favored than canned 
meats. 

MEAT-CANNING INDUSTRY. 

There are 17 meat-canning factories in Argentina, and tneir product 
will average as good as the American article and retails for 35 to 50 
per cent less. (See report on meat canning in Argentina in Special 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


7 


Consular Reports No. 54, page 131.) The refrigerating plants can 
only the meats that they can not refrigerate and ship, owing to poor 
appearance, bruising, etc., while the jerked-meat plants usually can 
tongues and oxtails. The factories are finding difficulty in seeming 
animals to slaughter and the price of beef on the hoof is nearly 50 per 
cent higher than a year ago. Argentina is passing from the pastoral 
to the agricultural stage and the number of cattle is decreasing. The 
refrigerating plants formerly killed no cattle under 5 or 6 years of age, 
but now it is difficult to find cattle over 3 years of age. 

The production of canned meats by the factories in 1912 was as 
follows: 


Articles. 

Exported. 

Domes¬ 
tic sale. 

Articles. 

Exported. 

Domes¬ 
tic sale. 

Ox tongues. 

Mutton. 

Cans. 

127,816 

43,664 

67,684 

185,552 
12,120 
11,280 

3,575,652 
69,122 

Cans. 

104,504 

347,563 

9,802 

26,299 

Corned beef—Continued. 

6-pound cans. 

^-pound cans. 

Cans. 
3,736,214 
21,216 
27,144 
10,808 
6,334 

Cans. 

15,063 

Boiled beef, 6-pound .cans. 

Boiled mutton: 

6-pound cans. 

14-pound cans. 

Corned mutton, 6-pound cans . 
Ox cheeb. 

240 

22,626 

428 

305 

24 

6 

8,382 

3-pound cans. 

Ox tails. 

2-pound cans. 

Corned beef: 

1-pound cans. 

20,326 

11,647 

Roast beef, 2-pound cans. 

Brislcet beef, 2-pound cans. 

Deviled bam. 

22,080 

2-pound cans. 

Potted tongue. 






The tin used is of good quality. Great Britain supplies more than all 
other countries. The sheets are usually 14 inches by 28 inches, and the 
gauge runs from 25 to 29 Brown & Sharpe, according to size of can. 
What is known as "Two Cross” tin is used for the large cans, and 
“I. C.” grade tin for the smaller cans. The only restriction regarding 
solder is that no acid may be used in soldering. 

Butchers and boners in the factories receive from 20 to 25 cents 
American currency per hour, women and girls from 10 to 12-J- cents 
per hour, boys from 8 to 12J cents per hour, and men from 12| to 25 
cents per hour. The working day is from 8 to 10 hours. 

The imports of canned meats from the United States are largely 
made up of canned pork, amounting in 1911 to $20,187 and in 1912 to 
$44,683, American currency. The sale of imported canned meats will 
be limited for many years to come, partly on account of home pro¬ 
duction and partly because the class of people who can afford to 
purchase imported goods is relatively small. 

VARIOUS IMPORTS. 


Very small amounts of American condensed milk have been im¬ 
ported in the past, and in 1912 none was imported from the United 
States. The importers claim that they can not sell it, and the prin¬ 
cipal objection is that it is not pleasing in color and becomes thick and 
lumpy, very often discoloring. The unsweetened varieties and 
evaporated cream were not known, and in these there should be some 
opportunity to do business. 

The imports of canned fish from the United States are mainly 
salmon and shrimps, and in 1912 the United States supplied $89,468 
worth of salmon and $31,788 American currency worth of shellfish, 
excluding oysters. Last year, 1912, the importers overstocked on 
salmon, and in March, 1913, they reported a surplus of 18,000 cases, 
































8 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


mostly pinks, and some of them were offering salmon at a dead loss 
of $1 American gold per case to unload. The retailers stocked their 
windows with salmon, and the price kept coming down until on April 
1, 1913, it was 60 cents Argentine currency (57.88 cents American) 
per can, or 40 per cent lower than the normal price. There is some 
English salmon sold, but the hulk of it is American, and the importers 
believe that when they have disposed of the surplus on hand they can 
handle a better grade than the pink. Some importers favor the tall 
can and claim that they have less swellage than wfith the flat cans; 
others claim that the appearance of the fiat can makes it a better 
seller. The tall can for salmon is better from a practical standpoint. 

The statement of a customhouse broker showing the cost of a ship¬ 
ment of salmon after arrival in Argentina is given herewith: One 
hundred and twenty-five cases of salmon, weight 3,400 kilos; 2 per 
cent, or 68 kilos, allowed for decomposition, net 3,332 kilos; valued 
by the customhouse at 35 cents Argentine gold per kilo, or $1,166.20; 
duty 20 cents Argentine per kilo, or $666.40; statistical tax of $2 
Argentine per thousand of valuation, $2.40; additional 2 per cent ad 
valorem tax, $23.32; warehouse and slingage charge, $12; liftage, 
$1.40; total in Argentine gold $705.52, or $1,603.45 Argentine paper; 
then, stamped paper, $3.50 Argentine paper; withdrawal certificate, 
$4; cartage to store, $10; and customhouse broker’s commission, $25; 
total in Argentine paper, $1,645.95, or $698.87 American currency; 
that is, just double cost, insurance, and freight to Buenos Aires. 

Canned herring have a small but steady sale, and are imported from 
Great Britain; Morton’s wholesale for $18.24 American currency per 
case of 48 cans and Smith’s for $16.31 American currency per case of 
48 cans. Lobsters also come almost entirely from Great Britain, and 
Morton’s wholesale for $8.11 per dozen whole jars and for $4.25 per 
dozen half jars. Canned shrimp are imported from the United States 
and wholesale in whole tins for $3.47 per dozen and in half tins for 
$1.78 per dozen. Oysters also come from the United States and 
wholesale for $7.14 per case of 48 tins. 

The people in Argentina are fond of canned fish and sardines put 
down in sauces. In buying these they usually look for fish from the 
Mediterranean as an article with which they are familiar. At the 
same time, as their imports of fish and sardines amount to more than 
a million and a half dollars annually, it would be worth while to study 
the tastes of the people. 

In addition to the imported olives, Mendoza in Argentina has an 
ever-increasing yearly production for which the demand exceeds the 
supply. The taste in olives does not run to the large and expensive 
varieties. The small Spanish olive rich in oil and flavor is the favorite. 
The major portion of the olives come in barrels and casks put down in 
brine. 

In 1912 the exports of canned fruits from the United States to 
Argentina amounted to $47,376 American currency, or an increase 
of over 500 per cent as compared with 1911, and the importers 
found themselves overstocked with some 10,000 cases of fruit, in 
addition to which the retailers are all well stocked and there seems 
to be no way to relieve the situation. 

The retail price of a 2J-pound can of first-class imported fruit is 
68 cents American currency. The price of first-class California fruit 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


9 


f. o. b. San Francisco, per dozen 2^-pound cans is, for peaches $1.70 
American currency, for pears $1.85, for apricots $1.60, and for white 
cherries $2.25. 


COST OF IMPORTING CANNED FRUIT. 


In order to give some idea of the cost of importing canned fruits 
from the United States, and the difference in cost between “fruits 
in sirup,” “fruits in their own juice,” and “dried fruits,” the fol¬ 
lowing data taken directly from the books of an importer in Buenos 
Aires are given: 


2,000 cases of peaches in sirup, 2 dozen 2^-pound cans to the case, at $1.70 currency. 

per dozen, American currency, f. o. b. San Francisco. $6, 800. 00 

Strapping, at 5 cents per case. ’ ioo. 00 

Freight to Montevideo, at $12 per 40 cubic feet, via Cape Horn. 700. 00 

Consular fees, documents, and insurance. 113. 00 

Commission to New York agent, 2 \ per cent. 170. 00 

Interest on money invested until arrival of goods, 1£ per cent. 102. 00 


C. i. f. Montevideo 


7, 985. 00 


Uruguayan 

currency. 


Lighterage, handling, etc., Montevideo. $241. 75 

Stamps, documents, etc. 12. 50 

Freight, Montevideo to Buenos Aires. 380. 00 

Commission to Uruguayan agent. 80. 00 


Converted to American currency, at $1.034. 694. 25= 717. 85 


C. i. f. Buenos Aires. 8,702. 85 

2,000 cases weigh 50,720 kilos, on which the customhouse Argentine 

valuation is 45 cents Argentine gold per kilo=$22,824. currency. 

The specific duty is 25 cents Argentine gold per kilo. $12, 680. 00 

Additional 2 per cent on valuation of $22,824. 456. 48 

Hoisting. 20. 30 

Slingage. 34.50 

Warehousing. 116. 44 

Statistical tax, $2 per thousand. 45. 80 


Converted to American currency, at $0.965. 13,353. 52=12,886.15 

Stamped paper. $16.. 50 

Commission to customhouse broker. 150. 00 

Cartage and handling to importer’s. 1,500. 00 


Converted to American currency, at $0.4246. 1, 666. 50= 707. 60 


22,296. 00 

To show the variation in the application of the tariff, etc., another 
example is given to cover a shipment of “peaches in their own juice.” 
They are the same brand and grade of peaches as the above, but so 
classified by the customhouse. 

1,000 cases of peaches in natural juice, 2 dozen 2^-pound cans to the case; 

1,000 cases weigh 28,000 kilos, on which the customhouse valuation is 30 
cents Argentine gold per kilo=$8.400; a loss of 3 per cent has been allowed Argentine 
and the valuation is therefore $8,148. The specific duty is 15 cents per goW. 


kilo; the duty amounts to $4,200 less loss of 3 per cent, $126. $4,074. 00 

2 per cent additional on valuation. 162. 96 

Hoisting. 14. 00 

Warehousing. 8. 52 

Slingage. 17.04 

Statistical tax, $2 per thousand.. 16. 40 

49721°—14-2 





































10 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


Argentine 

paper. 


Stamped paper... $6. 50 

Cartage and handling. 750. 00 

Commission to customhouse broker. 75. 00 

Converted to Argentine gold at $0.44. 831. 50= $305. 86 

Converted to American currency at $0.965. 4, 658. 78 

American currency, cost after reaching Buenos Aires. 4, 496. 72 

C. i. f. Buenos Aires, from San Francisco. 4,351. 43 

Total. 8, 848.15 


In the first case cited the cost per case ready to sell in Buenos Aires 
was $11.15 American currency, and in the second case $8.85. In the 
first instance the cost per case after the goods arrived in Buenos Aires 
was $6.80, or just 200 per cent on the original cost of the goods f. o. b. 
San Francisco, and in the second instance the cost per case after 
arrival in Buenos Aires was $4.50. 

Naturally under the lower classification more business could be 
done, or if some standard could be set by the Argentine Government 
fixing the amount of sugar content to be allowed under the classifica¬ 
tion of “Fruits in their own juice” the difficulty would be solved. 
Under the present system the appraiser receives one-half of the fines 
imposed, and the fine for false classification may be as high as $424.60 
American currency. The canned fruit imported from Spain and 
fruit in glass carries a plainly visible label in Spanish, such as “Duraz- 
nos en su jugo” (peaches in their own juice). The word “melaco- 
tones” is not used for peaches in Argentina nor “peras al natural” 
{natural pears); on the other hand, the Spanish expression for peaches 
in sirup would be “duraznos en almibar.” 

Even under the lower classification, imported canned fruits can not 
enjoy a large general sale. They could not be retailed for less than 
50 cents American currency per can, while the native canned peach 
retails for 25 cents American currency per can. 

FRUIT CANNING IN MENDOZA. 

There are over 250,000 bearing fruit trees in the Province of 
Mendoza, Argentina. Over half of these are peach trees and the 
remainder is made up of pears, plums, cherries, apricots, figs, olives, 
and English walnuts. The apple grows only in certain parts of 
Mendoza. The new trees that will be in bearing within five years 
will bring the total number up to several million. 

The climate is very much like the climate of the fruit-producing 
sections of California, and it is interesting to note that some of the 
earliest plantings of fruit trees in California were made from Mendoza 
stock carried there by Mendocinos attracted to that State by the 
rush for gold in 1849. 

All fruit is produced under irrigation. The land is rich in potash 
and phosphoric acid, but lacking in nitrogen. This fault is corrected 
by the river water used in irrigation, which is rich not only in nitrogen 
but also in other fertilizing properties. The cost of an acre of fruit 
trees averages about $773 American currency, from which the net 
profit is 15 to 20 per cent. 















SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


11 


The only fruit canned commercially at the present time is the peach, 
and the heaviest production in any year was 50,000 cases of 2-dozen 
cans. Most of the cans are 1 kilo (2.2046 pounds), though one 
canner is putting up peaches in 2.5-pound cans. Another canner 
put up 17,000 cans of prunes recently as an experiment, and as he 
sold them all at a handsome profit, the canned dried prune will enter 
the market soon to compete with the French and California article. 

There are five factories in the Province of Mendoza and they employ 
on the average about 600 men, women, and children. The men 
receive $1.06 American currency, the women $0,425, and the children 
$0.30 per day of 10 hours. 

All the machinery in these factories comes from one American 
manufacturer and is satisfactory, though one canner requested the 
names of other manufacturers of canning machinery. The fruit is 
picked by hand, and is hand or machine peeled. The machine-peeled 
iruit is not attractive. None of the fruit is lye peeled. The white 
peach is preferred in Argentina, and the yellow does not sell so well. 
All of the product is for home production. The tin cans are made 
in the factories. The tin is from 26 to 28 Brown & Sharpe gauge, 
comes in sheets 14 by 28 inches, is of good quality, and is purchased 
from Great Britain. The only restriction regarding solder is that 
no acid must be used. 

The total cost of a kilo can of peaches is 7 to 8 cents American 
currency. The flavor of the peaches is excellent, they are medium 
in size, rather dead in color, and in the cans opened the sirup was a 
little murky. In appearance the fruit is not so pleasing as the 
American product. Some of the labels used are fully as attractive 
as on the American product, and the cans are well ana neatly made. 
The packing cases are 18J by 14J by lOJ inches and are made from 
native poplar one-half inch thick. 

In a few years Mendoza will be producing and canning enormous 
quantities of fruits. Canning machinery of all kinds will be needed, 
and American machinery is in favor. The canners are also fruit 
growers and would like to get in touch with some of the California 
nurserymen. The similarity of climate and the necessity for irriga¬ 
tion in both places being points in favor of the formation of business 
relations. Correspondence and catalogues should be in Spanish 
where possible. 

NOTES ON THE IMPORT TRADE. 

The declared exports of canned vegetables from the United States 
to Argentina in 1911 amounted to $3,226 American currency, and in 
1912 to $11,744. This gain is due largely to the efforts of a few im¬ 
porters to push the American product and shows what can be done 
when the goods have merit and are properly handled. One importer 
gave sample cans of tomatoes, pork and beans, succotash, and sweet 
corn, and bottles of tomato ketchup to customers, with the request that 
they take them home and try them. Small orders came in from these 
customers, followed by larger ones, and the importer has built up a 
good trade in a year and a half on lines hitherto unknown. Tho 
entire question is to induce the people to try an entirely new product. 
Very few people in Argentina have ever tasted canned corn, succotash, 
or pork and beans; tomatoes and tomato paste they know as imported 
from Italy, but ketchup is practically unknown. 


12 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


Fresh vegetables are plentiful and reasonable in price, yet over a 
million dollars’ worth of canned vegetables and tomato paste were 
consumed in 1912. The imported canned vegetables are made up of 
peas, string beans, and asparagus. American asparagus is well liked 
and there is a good sale for it. The people prefer a long asparagus 
and do not care for asparagus tips; the largest and whitest asparagus 
is the best. 

The duty on vegetables is not as high as on fruits; canned vegeta¬ 
bles will cost the importer double the price in the United States laid 
down in his own warehouse. An example covering a shipment of 
vegetables is given herewith: 

100 cases of Mammoth White asparagus, at $2.40 American currency per 
dozen cans; case contains 2 dozen cans. Terms, cash New York with 
order. Shipped by ocean freight San Francisco to Montevideo via Capo 
Horn, transshipped from Montevideo to Buenos Aires: F. o. b. San Fran¬ 


cisco. $480.00 

Freight, San Francisco to Montevideo, 150 cubic feet. 45. 00 

Consular fees, insurance, etc. 21. 20 

2£ per cent commission to New York agent. 13. 65 

2 per cent interest on money invested until arrival. 11. 20 

Expenses and freight, Montevideo to Buenos Aires (Uruguayan currency, 

$31.97). 33.06 


C. i. f. Buenos Aires. 604.11 

The duty is figured on the net weight of the 100 cases, which is 2,500 kilos, 

at 12 cents per kilo, Argentine gold. $300. 00 

2 per cent loss allowed. 6. 00 


2 per cent additional tax on valuation of $625 

Warehousing. 

Slingage. 

Hoisting, at 35 cent3 per ton. 

Statistical tax, $2 per thousand. 

Stamped paper, cartage, etc. 

Interest until sold and spoilage. 


294. 00 
13. 50 
1. 75 
3. 50 
1. 05 
1. 40 
35. 20 
78. 60 


Converted to American currency, at $0,965 


429.00 =413.99 


Total cost, American currency. 1,018.10 

The cost per case was $10.17, against original cost f. o. b. San Fran¬ 
cisco of $4.80 per case. The freight from New York to Buenos Aires 
would be from 10 to 15 cents per cubic foot, and the expenses and 
handling at Montevideo would be avoided; otherwise the cost would 
be about the same. If the exporter is any great distance from the 
Atlantic seaboard, railway freight would make the cost the same as 
by ocean freight from San Francisco. 

In pickles, mushrooms, and soups the United States can not be said 
to compete. A taste has been formed for English pickles, and the 
American product is rarely seen. The imports of canned soups are 
not large, and in these the taste is for the French article. Several 
importers have brought in small orders of American soups, but state 
that they do not sell among the native population. In addition to 
the canned mushrooms, large quantities of dried mushrooms are 
consumed in Argentina, and the United States furnishes less than 
1 per cent of the imports of this article. 

The trade in canned fruits and canned vegetables, particularly the 
latter, can be increased; importers in general would like to handle 
some good line of California fruit or any good line of vegetables. 
























SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


13 


Tlie hotels and wealthy people buy these articles now, and the pur¬ 
chasing power of the masses is increasing all the time. Even with 
the heavy freight and duties the prices of vegetables are not prohibi¬ 
tive. French canned peas and string beans retail for 20 to 30 cents 
American currency per can; asparagus runs all the way from 30 to 
65 cents per can, according to origin; and tomatoes range from 20 
to 40 cents per can, according to size and origin. 

All of the importers complain that they must pay cash in New York 
in ordering canned goods of all kinds; they think credit should be 
extended at least until arrival of goods in Argentina. Complaint was 
also made by several importers that canned goods do not come up to 
grade of samples submitted. 

Under the pure-food regulations in Argentina samples are submitted 
from time to time by the customhouse to the municipal chemical 
office in Buenos Aires. The entry or sale of adulterated or altered 
substances is prohibited. The use of salicylic acid, borax or its salts, 
or any other preservative not expressly permitted, is prohibited. The 
use of aniline or other mineral colors to color food products in any form 
is likewise prohibited. Innocuous vegetable coloring materials may 
be employed, such as indigo, saffron, or cochineal. The introduction 
and sale of products sweetened with saccharin or other artificial 
sweeteners is prohibited unless the containers are clearly labeled to 
show what materials have been used in their manufacture; this applies 
to sirups, candies, preserves, and fruit juices, but a later section pro¬ 
vides that the employment of saccharin, sucrose, and other artificial 
sweeteners in the elaboration of solid or liquid food products for 
public consumption is prohibited. The words “olive oil” can be 
placed only on containers that contain the said substance without 
any mixture whatever. 

The following table shows the imports of canned goods in 1910, 
quantities in kilos and values in pesos of $0.9647 American currency: 


Articles. 


Kilos. 


Meats. 

Caviar.-. 

Condensed milk. 

Oysters. 

Fish. 

Sardines. 

Olives in oil. 

Olives in brine... 

Fruits in brandy, liquors, natural, or in water. 

Fruits in juice, sirup, or crystallized. 

Capers in glass. 

Pickles in glass. 

Pickles in tin or barrels. 

Mushrooms in tin. 

Tomato paste. 

Soups... 

Vegetables. 

Olive oil. 


188,443 
9,257 
351,651 
173,593 
1,476,860 
4,419,592 
4,233 
505, 828 
255,031 
147,325 
23, 870 
224,344 
45,332 
330,223 
6,062,100 
40,742 
1,571,076 
18,725,171 


Value. 

Value 

from 

United 

States. 

Gain(+) 
or loss 

(-) m 

trade 
with 
United 
States, as 
compared 
with 1910. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

94,221 

46,844 

+24,592 

12,034 


98,463 

33 

+ 33 

34,718 

32,100 

- 8,156 

516,902 

61,538 

+ 1.003 

1,104,898 

16 

- '382 

1,269 

27 

+ 27 

101,166 

13 

+ 13 

76,509 

4,969 

+ 1,783 

60,213 

2,296 

-10,622 

4,774 
44,869 

639 

+ 562 

6,346 

5 

+ 5 

115,578 

482 

+ 482 

727,452 

892 

+ 371 

16,297 

201 

- 114 

392,769 

2,678 

- 238 

3,363,026 

122,649 

+87,359 

6,771,504 

| 275,382 

+96,718 


Total 



































14 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


BOLIVIA. 

The imports of canned and preserved food products in tins amount 
to half a million dollars annually, and of this the United States does 
not supply 10 per cent. Bolivia, of necessity, aside from the Indian 
population, must use large and increasing quantities of canned goods. 
The vast central plateau is arid and practically no fruits or vegetables 
can be raised. Cattle for beef are imported, the value of imported 
live animals in 1911 amounting to more than $1,400,000. 

The Indians live on jerked mutton and frozen or dried,potatoes. 
Of the total population of 2,500,000, probably not more than 10 per 
cent are purchasers of canned goods. Notwithstanding the fact that 
fresh beef is imported on the hoof, it is not high in price, varying from 
10 to 20 cents per pound. In the cities fresh vegetables, which are 
brought in from the surrounding country, are also relatively cheap, 
and canned goods are not a staple article of diet. In the smaller 
towns on the plateau and at all of the mines, canned goods are a staple 
article of diet, and as the country develops more and more canned 
goods will be used. 

What freight, landing, and other charges, duties, and additional 
taxes amount to may be gathered from the following: 

Shipment of 10 cases of sardines from Spain, weighing 1,036 pounds: 


Freight to Mollendo, Peru. $7. 25 

Lighterage. 81 

Liftage.54 

Policies.75 

Weighing, etc..40 

Cartage, revision, etc.65 

Repairs to cases.80 

Commission to agent, Mollendo.80 

Stamps, etc.30 

Freight, Mollendo to La Paz. 14. 68 

Liquidation of duties and other charges at La Paz: 

25 per cent duty on valuation, at 3£ cents per pound. 9. 07 

Warehousing. 60 

Statistical tax.04 

Handling. 1. 06 

Tax for construction of customhouse.60 

Declaration.88 

Customhouse papers. 2. 48 

Commission, customhouse broker, La Paz. 1. 20 

Municipal tax. 5. 86 

Cathedral tax.......22 


Total. 48.99 


The cost for large shipments would be proportionately a little less 
for delivery to the same point. For delivery to the far interior towns 
off the railroad lines the charge per hundredweight runs all the way 
from $3.60 to $22. 

Increasing quantities of canned goods are imported from Chile, as 
proximity and lower freight rates militate in favor of this trade, and 
keener competition may be expected by other nations as the canning 
industry develops in Chile. 

The United States leads in salmon and oysters; Great Britain in 
canned meats, preserves, jellies, marmalades, pickles, and sauces. 
The sardines come from Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Most of the con¬ 
densed milk is furnished by Switzerland, and large quantities are used, 
as fresh milk costs 10 to 15 cents per quart in the towns and is of poor 
























SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


15 


quality. In many of the country districts it is not obtainable at any 
price. There is a feeling against American condensed milk on account 
of the market having been flooded with one of the cheapest and least 
reliable brands. At present one of best American brands is on sale 
and is making some headway. Canned fruits come mainly from 
Spain, Italy, and France, though Chile and the United States are ob¬ 
taining an increased trade in this line. Canned vegetables also come 
mainly from Spain, Italy, and France. Olives are supplied by Spain, 
while olive oil comes from Spain and Italy. Practically no cotton¬ 
seed oil is # imported. 

In general there is no feeling against American canned goods, and 
when used they are well liked, but in most lines the European prod¬ 
uct can be purchased by the importer for 10 to 15 per cent less than 
the American product. Then, too, many of the merchants and im¬ 
porters are German, English, Spanish, or Italian, and they naturally 
push their home products, other factors being equal. American mer¬ 
chants and importers are few and far between. 

The following table shows the wholesale prices of canned goods in 
Bolivia; the retail prices run from 15 to 20 per cent higher: 


Articles. 


Prices. 


Articles. 


Prices. 


Sardines, Spanish, Portuguese, and 


Italian.case.. 

Oysters, American.do_ 

Shrimps, American.dozen.. 

Pink salmon, American.case.. 

Red salmon, American.do- 


Corned beef, American, 1-pound cans, 

dozen. 

Brisket beef, American, 1-pound cans, 

dozen. 

Chile con carne, 1-poiind cans, Amer¬ 
ican.dozen.. 

Chipped beef in glass, American .do- 

Beef, ham, and veal loaf, 1-pound cans, 

American.dozen.. 

Pork and beans, 1-pound cans, Amer¬ 
ican .dozen.. 

Mincemeat, 1-pound cans, American, 

dozen. ; . 

Succotash, 2-pound cans, American, 
case. 


$6.80-$14.00 


9.60 

20.00 


5.60 


4.80 

6.00 


4.40 

6.40 


Spinach, No. 3 can, American, .dozen.. 

Tomatoes, No. 3can, American..do_ 

Tomato catsup, medium size, Amer¬ 
ican.dozen.. 

Morton’s pickles, British.do_ 

Morton’s jams, 1-pound cans, British, 

dozen. 

Cranberry sauce, 2-pound cans, Amer¬ 
ican.dozen.. 

Peaches, pears, plums, apricots, and 
cherries, 2.^-pound cans, American, 

California.dozen.. 

Peaches, pears, plums, apricots, and 
cherries, 2§-pound cans, Chilean, 

dozen. 

Prunes, tin 25-pound can, American, 

tin. 

Peerless condensed milk, American, 

case. 

Mellin’s food, American.dozen.. 

Baking powder, American... .pound.. 


S8.00 

6.00 

6.80 

4.80 

4.40 
9.60 

10.00 

6.40 
7.00 

9.20 
12.00 

1.20 


The largest part of the business in Bolivia is done through one or 
two commission houses, though a small and slowly increasing number 
of merchants are doing their own importing. 

Merchants and importers prefer doing busmess direct with the manu¬ 
facturer and exporter, but claim to find difficulty in making satisfac¬ 
tory business connections with American houses. Goods for export to 
Bolivia must be carefully packed, as most of them are handled six or 
seven times and under unfavorable conditions. Packing cases should 
be small, not weighing over 140 pounds, and of such a shape that they 
may be packed on mules. European houses grant much better terms 
of credit than American houses, the usual term being six months from 
date of invoice and in some cases longer. American houses allow 60 
to 90 days from the date of the invoice, and some houses still demand 
cash against documents New York. 

The tax on commercial travelers in Bolivia is heavy, whether sam¬ 
ples are carried or not, running from $80 to $400 in different towns of 
the Republic. Under such circumstances many merchants purchase 































16 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


from catalogue. Catalogues and correspondence should be in Span¬ 
ish, and any advice from the importer as to packing, marking, and 
route of shipment should be followed. 

There is no pure-food law in Bolivia that is national in effect. The 
municipalities have ordinances, but up to the present time these have 
not proved very effective. 

There are no canning factories in Bolivia and in all probability there 
will be none for many years to come. 

All canned goods suffer from swellage in Bolivia; shipment through 
the Tropics and then to high altitudes, where the atmospheric pressure 
is less, is the cause of this trouble. 

BRAZIL. 

[Vice Consul General Albro L. Burnell, Rio de Janeiro.] 

The total imports of canned goods into Brazil, with the imports 
from principal countries given separately, are shown in the following 
table for 1911 and 1912; the values are in United States currency: 


Articles and principal 
countries of origin. 


1911 


1912 


Articles and principal 
countries of origin. 


1911 


1912 


Preserved fruits and fruit 
extracts: 

United States. 

France.. 

Other countries. 

Total. 


$30,038 
9,105 
12,338 


$33,304 
14,359 
16,419 


51,481 


64,082 


Preserved meats and meat 
extracts: 

United States. 

Portugal. 

Italy. 

France. 

Other countries. 


$37,282 
130,917 
59,886 
25,803 
34,985 


$25,202 
121,445 
81,846 
35,156 
44,775 


Preserved fish and fish 
extracts: 

United States. 

Portugal. 

Italy.... 

France. 

Other countries. 

Total... 


146,402 

144,028 

749,946 

735,928 

99,867 

94,868 

76,100 

75,259 

168,918 

217,492 

1,241,233 

1,267,575 


Total. 

Condensed milk: 
United States... 
Switzerland 
Other countries. 

Total. 


288,873 


16,706 
1,137,100 
67,327 


308,424 


18,541 

1,286,032 

91,850 


1,396,423 


The production of canned goods, especially of canned fruits, has 
been steadily increasing in Brazil during the last few years. For¬ 
merly home production was limited almost wholly to the canning of 
pastes, such as “guayabada,” made with sugar and the fruit guava, 
and “marmelada,” a similar product made with the fruit “marmelo” 
or quince, but at present the canning or preserving of other domestic 
fruits, as the pineapple and “caju,” is becoming extensive. 

Because of the high prices demanded in this market for foreign 
canned fruits, their consumption is very limited. Imported goods, 
usually in 2-pound cans, retail for about $1.17 United States cur¬ 
rency per can, and in bottles or glass iars, as cherries and jams, at 
about $1.98 United States currency per Kilo (2.2046 pounds). 

The most popular foreign canned fruits are peaches, pears, apricots, 
and berries prepared as jams. Canned plums and cherries are but 
little known here, though dried fruits, principally from Spain and 
France, are commonly served. Foreign canned fruits are consumed 
largely by foreign residents and the wealthier Brazilian families. 
Domestic canned fruits are put up in half-kilo and kilo cans. 

Formerly large quantities of salmo i were imported into Brazil in 
50-pound barrels from the United States, but at present the demand 








































SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


17 


is largely for English salmon imported in pound and 2-pound tin cans 
and retailing at $0.71 United States currency per pound. Large 
quantities of sardines in cans come from Norway and, to some extent, 
from France, Spain, and Portugal. German prepared herring in 
cans and small wooden casks of about 5 to 10 pounds are sold in con¬ 
siderable quantities. Caviar comes from Russia and Germany. 
Canned lobster in Upound cans, retailing at $0.58 United States 
currency, comes from England. Although fresh shrimps are obtain¬ 
able from local waters, canned shrimps in J-pound cans, in cases 
of 24 cans^ are introduced in appreciable quantities from the United 
States, and retail at $0,647 United States currency per can. Impor¬ 
tations of canned fish from Italy consist mostly of tunny fish put up 
in small cans and known as “atum.” 

American corned beef is imported in 2-pound cans in cases of 24 
and retails at $1.13 United States currency per can. Frankfurter 
sausages in 2-pound cans are imported from Germany. In the 
southern part of Brazil ox tongues, one tongue to the can, are put 
up for European consumption. 

Jacob & Co.’s cream crackers or biscuits, imported from England, 
find an extensive sale in Brazil. The 2-pouna tins (net weight) sell 
at retail from $1.13 to $1.94 United States currency. American 
cocoa in J-pound and 1-pound cans is very popular. Baking powder 
in J- pound and 1-pouna cans comes almost entirely from the United 
States. English jams in 1-pound cans, retailing at $0,647 United 
States currency per can, are on sale in nearly all of the best grocery 
stores. 

Many of the large retail dealers in groceries import their American 
canned goods from the United States through New York commission 
houses. There are only a few wholesale dealers in groceries. Ex¬ 
porters to Brazil are advised to quote only prices f. o. b. New York 
or other port of lading, or c. i. f. Rio de Janeiro or other port of entry, 
in view of the character of the Brazilian customs tariff and peculiar 
local conditions affecting customs clearances. 

Imported canned goods are subject to Government inspection, 
which often requires one can of every case. The cost of this inspec¬ 
tion is $6.47 United States currency, which, added to the high rate 
of duty and retailers’ large profits, brings the cost of a can of peaches 
or pears, for example, to five or six times its cost in the United States. 
Besides customs duties and inspection, canned goods, whether do¬ 
mestic or foreign, are subject to an internal-revenue tax of $0,032 
United States currency per can of 1 kilo (2.2046 pounds), paid in the 
case of imported goods at the time of customs clearance and repre¬ 
sented by stamps placed by the importer on the cans. 

Canned fruits from abroad are packed in wooden cases containing 
2 dozen 2-pound cans to the case. Canned salmon usually comes in 
1-pound cans in wooden cases of 4 dozen cans. Domestic canned 
fruits from the southern part of Brazil are put up in 1-kilo cans, 56 
cans to the case. In the northern part of the country there are 72 
cans to the case. 

Importers of canned goods, particularly of canned fruits, are gen¬ 
erally given 90 days’ credit, and wholesale and retail dealers in do¬ 
mestic canned fruits receive from 40 to 60 days’ credit from local 
canning factories. 

49721°—14-3 


18 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


[By Consul P. Merrill Griffith, Pernambuco.] 

Canned goods, such as asparagus, potted meats, corned beef, 
tongue, sausages, sardines, preserved fruits, soda biscuits, sweet 
biscuits, sweet corn, tomatoes, pears, butter, etc., are imported 
into this city from the following countries in the order given: England, 
Germany, Portugal, France, and the United States. Approximately 
10 per cent of the total amount imported comes from the United 
States. 

The preference is for goods from Portugal; then follows those 
imported from England, Germany, France, and, lastly, the United 
States. This preference is not due to any prejudice or marked 
difference in the quality of the goods, but chiefly to the size of the 
different foreign colonies, the largest of which is Portuguese and the 
smallest, the American. 

American canned goods are ordered by merchants here almost 
exclusively through New York commission houses, who allow a 
credit of 90 days’ sight. The owner of one of the oldest wholesale 
and retail stores in this city states that travelers representing Ameri¬ 
can canned-goods concerns had never visited this city, or at least 
had never visited his store. 

The following are the present prices, in United States currency, 
of some of the most popular canned goods on this market: 


Articles. 

Weight of 
can. 

Price. 

Articles. 

Weight of 
can. 

Price. 

Asparagus. 

1 kilo. 

$1.33 

Pears... 

1 kilo. 

$0.80 

Beans. 

1 pound. 

.40 

Potted meats. 

£ kilo . 

1.00 

Butter_ 

.do. 

.86 

Sardines. 

1 pound.... 

.50 

Corned beef . 

1 kilo. 

1.83 

Sausages. 

J pound.... 

.73 

Corned tongue. 

.do. 

1.83 

Sweet corn. 

1 pound. 

.50 

J»ms ; jellies, etc_ 

st kilo..;_ 

.60 

Soda biscuits. 

_do. 

-66 

Milk (condensed).... 

.do. 

.30 

Soda crackers. 

_do. 

.66 

Peas. 

1 pound. 

.40 





The grocery trade is controlled by Portuguese merchants. There 
are many large, attractive, and conveniently arranged stores and the 
consumption of canned goods is considerable. A large quantity of 
the canned meats and butter is of domestic manufacture and comes 
chiefly from Rio de Janeiro, but practically all of the remaining pro¬ 
portion of similarly prepared articles, as well as food stuffs, sea food, 
confections, wines and liquors, etc., is imported from Europe. 

I have personally, through the courtesy of the proprietors, inspected 
the stock of several of the largest stores in Pernambuco and have 
discovered that the amount of American canned goods in proportion 
to the amount in stock is quite insignificant. Many stores carry 
nothing at all; others only a small amount. 

These conditions ought to be changed. The greater portion of 
American canned goods is as attractive and as scientifically and 
hygienically prepared as any on the market and the quality, too, is a 
point of decided advantage. It seems as though such goods ought 
to be imported and sold throughout this country at prices that 
would enable them to compete successfully with any similar articles 
on the market, with the possible exception of those of domestic 
manufacture. 

The best way for American manufacturers to extend their trade 
in this line is to send out representatives who are acquainted with 





































SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


19 


trade conditions, the customs and tastes of the people, and thoroughly 
familiar with the Portuguese language. If this be inconvenient, 
then recourse could be had to catalogues printed in Portuguese and 
all weights, etc., stated in terms of the metric system. 

CHILE. 

The imports of canned and preserved food products in 1911 
amounted to $2,570,288, and of this amount the United States sup¬ 
plied $1,162,575, made up almost entirely of salmon and food oils. 
Salmon from the United States was valued at $287,703 and food oils 
at $837,741. 

The total imports of canned and preserved fruits amounted to 
$20,798, most of which came from Great Britain, the United States 
supplying $2,380 worth. Canned vegetables totaled $66,164, sup¬ 
plied mainly by Spain, Germany, Great Britain, and France, the 
United States furnishing $2,640; sauces of all kinds, $15,260, mainly 
from Great Britain, the United States supplying $140; malted milk, 
prepared flours, and the like, $72,410, supplied mainly by Great 
Britain, France, and Germany, the United States furnishing $10,238; 
olives, $4,018, most of which came from Spain, the United States sup¬ 
plying $19. The total of canned meats was $52,796, most of which 
came from Great Britain, while the United States supplied $5,271; 
preserved milk and other substances $9,536, mainly supplied by Great 
Britain, the United States supplying $124; condensed milk, $187,308, 
also supplied mainly by Great Britain, while the United States sup¬ 
plied $233; canned fish, exclusive of salmon, sardines, and shellfish, 
$49,693, supplied by Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and the United 
States, the last supplying $8,150; sardines, $296,485, almost entirely 
from Spain, the United States supplying $7,403; lobsters, $4,614, 
mainly from Great Britain, while the United States supplied $531; 
salmon, $314,160, almost entirely supplied by the United States. 
The total imports of food oils were $1,477,045, of which 56 per cent 
was supplied by the United States. 

In the far south meats, fish, lobsters, and crabs are canned; farther 
north around Valparaiso, Santiago, Coquimbo, and Aconcagua are 
the fruit and vegetable canning factories, some of which also make 
sauces and picldes. Practically all of the fruits and vegetables 
canned in the United States are also canned in Chile. Marmalades 
and jams are also made in some of the factories, and there is one con¬ 
densed-milk factory in successful operation. The output of the fac¬ 
tories for 1911 was as follows: 



Meats and 
fish. 

Fruits and 
vegetables. 

Con¬ 

densed 

milk. 

Number of factories. 

11 

23 

1 

Capital . 

$2,882,890 
$1,072,041 
$9.'), 915 
$2,733,888 
$1,954,613 
452 

$3,317,490 
$321,734 
$236,225 
$1,392,519 
$1,126,818 

$54,546 

$108,642 

$9,945 

$200,750 

$200,750 

85 

Domestic raw material used. 

Foreign raw material used ... 

Productive capacity of factories .. r . 

Production in 1911 . 

Mpn fvrpplrwpfl ....... 

401 

Women employed ... 

121 

1,043 


Qiildren employed ....... 

72 

185 


Wages. 

$166,944 

$223,944 

$23,214 

Engines or motors, number... 

26 

35 

4 

Horsepower.. 

870 

385 

85 


























20 SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 

The cans used in different factories and even in the same factories 
vary greatly in size and shape. They are all round cans and run 
from 450 grams, which also sells as a pound can, up to 5 pounds. 
There are kilo cans, half-kilo cans, 1-pound, 2-pound, and 5-pound cans. 

Peas and string beans are usually packed m high, slender 1-pound 
cans or in hall-kilo cans and fruits and tomatoes in 2-pound or in 
kilo cans, though tomato paste is put up also in 5-pound cans. 
Marmalades and jams are put up in 1-pound or in half-kilo cans the 
shape of an ordinary condensed-milk can. Lobsters and crabs are 
packed in flat cans, half-kilo and kilo size. The canned fruits and 
vegetables are pleasing in appearance and have good flavor. Can- 
ners complain that the swellage on canned tomatoes is rather high 
and the tomatoes are quite acid. Experiments so far made with 
the canning of apples have not been satisfactory and other varieties 
of apples are being sought for planting. The labels for cans are 
fully as attractive as the American. 

The tin used comes mainly from Great Britain, though the United 
States supplied nearly a million pounds in 1911, and recently one 
importer is offering a good grade of tin from the United States on 
more advantageous terms than the British article. 

The machinery comes from the United States and Germany. 
Some of the factories are replacing American machinery with German 
on account of price. The German machinery is from 20 to 25 per 
cent cheaper and is more simply and more solidly constructed. 
This is true particularly of can-sealing machines and of pea-canning 
machinery. One factory is equipped with American machinery 
manufactured in the East, and yet it was supplied from California. 
Under such conditions it could not possibly compete in price with 
the German product. The canning industry is bound to develop in 
Chile, but American machinery can not hold the market unless the 
German prices can be met. 

American canned goods, aside from salmon, can not compete with 
the domestic product in price. Fresh meat of good quality sells 
for 8 to 20 cents per pound, according to cut, fresh vegetables and 
fruits are plentiful and cheap for 8 months in the year, and ocean 
fish sell for 20 cents per pound in Santiago, while on the coast they 
are much cheaper. 

Retail prices of canned goods are as follows: 


Price per can. 


Singapore pineapples, 2-pound cans.. 
Chilean jams and marmalades: 

1- pound cans. 

2- pound cans. 

Orange and plum marmalade, 2- 

pound cans. 

Chilean strawberries, 2-pound cans.. 
Chilean peaches, pears, etc., 2-pound 

cans... 

California peaches, pears, etc., 2- 

pound cans. 

California white cherries, 2-pound 

cans..... 

Chilean cherries, 2-pound cans. 

Chilean asparagus, large can. 

Chilean peas, 1-pound cans. 

Chilean peppers, 2-pound cans. 

Chilean tomato sauce, 2-pound cans. 

Chilean tomatoes, 2-pound cans. 

Chilean string beans, 2-pound cans.. 
California asparagus, large can. 


$0. 49 

SO. 11- .16 
• 20— .32 

.45 
.24- .32 

.13- .36 

.56 

.67 

.20- .30 
.40- .67 
.17 
.24 
.14 

.14- .20 
. 1 £- .20 
.67 



Price per can. 

French peas, 1-pound cans. 

$0.30- .40 

Imported canned beef, 2-pound cans. 

.40- .50 

Imported sausages, small can. 

.15- .30 

Chilean sausages, small can. 

.07 

French herring. 

.41 

French sardines, large can. 

.41 

French sardines, small can. 

.22 

Spanish sardines, large can. 

.29 

Spanish sardines, small can. 

.16 

English salmon: 


Morton. 

.36 

Lazenby. 

.33 

Norway sardines, small can. 

.15 

American pink salmon. 

.15- .20 

Chilean crab, large can. 

.49 

French crab, large can. 

.76 

Chilean lobster, large can. 

.62 

American shrimp, small can. 

.25 

English evaporated cream. 

.25 

Italian condensed skimmed milk.... 

.22 

American condensed milk. 

.25 









































SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


21 


There is no national pure-food law in Chile. Some of the larger 
municipalities have ordinances relative to adulteration and coloring 
agents, but in none of them is there any efficient provision made for 
systematic inspection and analysis of samples. The penal code 
of the Kepublic provides fines and punishment for adulterations, 
but there is no appropriation providing for inspection or analysis. 

COLOMBIA. 

The total annual imports of canned goods into Colombia amount 
to about $250,000, of which the United States supplies about $38,000. 
The United States leads in salmon, canned meats, oysters and shrimp, 
and canned vegetables. Great Britain leads in canned ham, lobsters, 
condensed milk;, capers, pickles and sauces, jams, marmalades and 
preserves, malted milk, and olives. Germany leads in caviar and 
canned butter. France does the largest business in canned fish, 
asparagus, and canned fruits. Italy leads in mortadela (canned 
bologna sausage) and olive oil, and Spain has the largest share of the 
trade in sardines. 

Freight rates from New York and European ports are about the 
same and run from $6 to $7 a ton. Freight rates to the interior are 
very high, running all the wa j from $12 to $60 a ton to main com¬ 
mercial centers. When the rivers are low the movement of freight 
depends upon the mule. At such times the rates are sometimes 
lower than by rail and steamer, but the loss in time is considerable. 
One to two months may be counted as an average for the delivery 
of freight from the coast, and many times a longer period is needed 
on account of congestion in the lower river, when transportation 
is at a standstill owing to low water in the upper river. 

While the population of Colombia is about 5,000,000, not more than 
8 or 10 per cent of that population can be considered consumers of 
canned goods, and probably not more than 1 or 2 per cent are con¬ 
sumers to any great extent of such goods. Fresh meat, fruit, and 
vegetables are abundant and cheap the year round, particularly in 
the interior, but nevertheless there is a constantly increasing demand 
for canned goods as the mining regions develop. 

There is no doubt that the United States should have a much larger 
share of the trade in canned goods in certain lines, such as condensed 
milk, canned fruits, pickles, jams, marmalades, preserves, and canned 
butter. In condensed milk and canned butter it is more a question 
of quality than of price; a comparison of European and American 
brands was distinctly not in favor of the latter product. A shipment 
of one of the best-known American brands of milk was examined 
and fully 5 per cent had suffered swellage to such an extent that 
some of the seams of the cans had given way, allowing the contents to 
ooze out. The American milk is often unpleasing in color and lumpy, 
and while this may not detract from the quality it is impossible to 
convince the consumer of this fact. One of the largest importers 
in Colombia will order no more American milk, as he has constant 
difficulty in disposing of it. A European shipment of milk received 
about the same time as the American shipment was examined, and all 
the cans were bright and clean, there was practically no swellage, 
and the contents proved to be fresh and pleasing in appearance. 

That California canned fruits are the best in the world is admitted, 
and yet more French goods are sold in Colombia. This may be 


22 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


attributed almost entirely to the French custom of packing in glass. 
The goods cost more than the American article, but are sold through 
appeal to the eye. A label on a can may be very attractive, but 
it can never make the same appeal that the fruit itself does. 

A taste of many years standing has been formed for British pickles, 
jams, marmalades, and preserves, and these articles are a little 
cheaper than the American article. 

Canned goods will spoil in Colombia, even in the higher altitudes. 
After shipment through the Tropics and the consequent release 
from normal atmospheric pressure swellage can not be avoided, 
but a careful study of the problem can reduce swellage and spoilage 
to a minimum. One American house seems to have solved the 
problem by using an indented double concave can, which the local 
importers claim is entirely satisfactory. 

Canned goods sell at retail for 100 to 150 per cent higher than 
in the country of origin. The importer wholesales on a margin of 
not less than 25 per cent, and must give credit of 6 to 9 months. 
He is granted only 60 to 90 days from date of invoices by American 
exporters. European exporters grant from 6 months to a year 
and sell to some importers on open account. 

Goods should be packed in strong, strapped cases not weighing 
over 100 pounds, as they must often be shipped on mule back, and 
are always handled many times. Goods for Bogota are handled 
six times between the coast and their destination. 

Importers buy direct and through commission houses. Probably 
the bulk of the business is done through commission houses, as 
many of the importers claim they can not do business direct in a 
manner satisfactory to themselves. Traveling representatives should 
have a good working knowledge of Spanish and some idea of Latin- 
American character. All correspondence should be in Spanish. 

ECUADOR. 

The increase in Ecuador’s trade in canned goods is slow from year 
to year, and no great change can be looked for in this line of goods. 
The prices of canned goods, in comparison with fresh meats, vege¬ 
tables, and fruits are very high, and while the population totals 
1,500,000 not more than 10 per cent may be termed consumers. 
The Indians form about 80 per cent of the total population. Their 
daily wage runs from 10 to 30 cents, wdth an average of not more 
than 15 cents per day. They live on corn, barley, and potatoes, 
with little or no meat. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats are 
abundant and reasonable in price the entire year. Outside of the 
canned goods consumed by foreign residents, hotels, and natives 
who have traveled the use of such goods is very limited and is 
regarded more in the light of a luxury than a necessity. 

In the future Ecuador should become a producer of canned goods. 
There is a pineapple-canning factory under construction at present, 
and no doubt other factories will follow. Manufacturers of canning 
machinery should keep in touch with Ecuadorian importers to 
secure this trade for the United States. 

The United States should enjoy a larger share of the present trade 
in canned goods, but one of the main difficulties in obtaining it is the 
question of credit. American exporters who grant credit in Ecuador 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


23 


usually allow 60 days after delivery of goods, whereas European 
houses grant 6 months and often longer. The importer soiling in 
the country must extend credit of 6 to 8 months and yet must meet 
Ins own obligations at the end of 60 days. As a matter of fact the 
time that the importer is out of the use of his money is still longer, 
as he can not always sell at once. 

Importing in Ecuador is mainly done through local agents or com¬ 
mission men for account of the importer. In many cases the busi¬ 
ness is so small that it would not interest the manufacturer to deal 
direct with the importer. Ecuador is looking forward to the open¬ 
ing of the Panama Canal with much interest and will derive great 
benefit from it. 

The freight rates on canned meats from New York to Ecuador are 
85 cents per 100 pounds or 47 cents per cubic foot; on other canned 
goods the rate is 67 cents per 100 pounds or 37 cents per cubic foot. 
The rates from European ports are slightly lower. The freight rates 
on canned goods from Guayaquil to Quito run from $1.58 to $1.98 
per 100 pounds. The heavy cost on goods for Quito is in the extra 
handling and cartage in Guayaquil, as there is no customhouse in 
Quito. 

Wholesale prices of canned goods are shown in the following table: 


Articles. 


Per 

dozen. 


Asparagus, French or German, 1-lb. 

cans.. 

Peas, French, small, good quality, 7-oz. 

cans. 

Fruits in juice, Spanish, fair quality, 1- 

lb. cans. 

Fruits in juice, Chile, medium quality, 

1-lb. cans. 

Sardines in oil or tomato sauce, medium 


size can. 

Salmon, U. S. pink.14-oz. cans.. 

Oysters U. S.do- 

Lobsters, U. S.7-oz. cans.. 

Pate de fois gras, French_3^-oz. cans.. 

Chicken, roasted, fried, or in tomato, 
14-oz cans. 


Tunny fish, in oil or tomato sauce, 1-lb. 
cans. 


$7.00 

3.00-3.50 

4.50 

3.50 

o S. 50 

2.50 
2.25 
3.65 
4.40 

8.75 

10.80 


Articles. 


Per 

dozen. 


Mackerel, French, in tin.1-lb. cans.. 

Codfish in tin, German, 7,25,50 lb. cans.. 
Mortadella, Italian sausage in tin, 3^-oz. 

cans. 

Worcester sauce. Lea & Perrins, ^ bot¬ 


tle. 

Rabbit or hare, British, C. & E. Mor- 


Snails in tin, French.J-lb. cans. 

Roast beef, American.1-lb. cans.. 

Loin of pork with tomato or beans, do_ 

Roast mutton with tomato.. J-lb. cans.. 

Caviar.3M>z. cans.. 

Calamary, sea-sleeve, in its ink, Span¬ 
ish, 14-oz. cans... 

Mussels, Chile.^-lb. cans.. 

Sausages in tin.7-oz. cans.. 


$8.75 
b 18.50 

1.70 

4.40 

6.80 

4.90 

4.40 

8.76 

6.80 

4.40 

6.80 
4.40 
6.80 


a Per 100 cans. 


b Per hundredweight. 


From 25 to 40 per cent may be added to these prices for Quito and 
surrounding towns. 

The imports of canned goods into Ecuador for 1910 are shown in 
the table that follows: 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Value. 

Articles and countries of origin. 

Value. 

Meats: 


Butter: 


TTnitar! States . 

$24,148 

United States. 

$779 

Gfp.at Britain . 

3^ 656 

Great Britain. 

348 

fiprm an v . ... 

7'688 

Germany. 

4,918 

Ttaly . 

4,302 

Italy. 

13;712 

TtYanna .. 

7,081 

France. 

194 

Spain . 

1,838 

Spain. 

19 

1} plod n m .. 

'431 



China __ 

1,780 

Total. 

19,970 

Chile 

'268 


Panama. 

12 

Sardines: 




United States. 

1,197 

Total 

51,204 

Great Britain. 

'787 



Germany. 

12,139 






































































24 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


Articles and countries of origin. 


Value. 


Sardines—Continued. 

France. 

Spain. 

Belgium. 


$1,928 

30,328 

2,174 


Total. 

Olive oil: 

United States. 
Great Britain. 

Germany_ 

Italy. 

France. 

Spain. 

Belgium. 


48,553 


296 

56 

793 

22,567 

1,686 

5,371 


80 


Total. 


30,849 


Cottonseed oil (so declared): 
Great Britain.. 


97 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Value. 

Canned fruits: 

United States. 

?1,532 

Great Britain. 

49 

Germany. 

206 

Italy. 

68 

France . 

419 

Spain. 

641 

China. 

189 

Chile . 

1,173 




Total. 

Tams and jellies: 
United States 
Great Britain, 

Italy. 

France. 

Spain.. 

China. 


4,277 


259 

404 

1,412 

332 

173 

120 


Olives, any container: 
United States.... 
Great Britain.... 

Germany. 

Italy. 

France. 

Spain. 

China. 

Chile. 

Peru. 


523 

323 

115 

695 

214 

2,447 

95 

17 

37 


Total. 

Tomato sauce: 
United States 
Great Britain. 
Germany.... 

Italy. 

France. 

Total. 


2,700 


418 

24 

29 

163 

28 


662 


Total. 

Pickles, any container: 

United States. 

Great Britain. 

Germany. 

France. 

Spain. 

Belgium. 

China. 


4,466 


195 

983 

41 

259 

94 

10 

105 


Total 


1,687 


Sauces, not specified: 
United States.... 
Great Britain... 

Germany. 

France. 

China. 

Total. 

Grand total 


33 

938 

29 

68 

337 


1,405 


165,870 


PANAMA. 

In relation to area and population Panama consumes large quanti¬ 
ties of canned goods of all descriptions. The population of the 
Republic is about 375,000, and the imports of canned and preserved 
goods of all kinds in 1911 were valued at $804,210. In 1912 the im¬ 
ports for the first nine months amounted to $556,292, indicating a 
considerable fading off as compared with the previous year. These 
figures do not include the imports of the Canal Commission for use 
in the Canal Zone, but the falling off above noted is largely due to 
the reduction of the number of employees working on the canal, who, 
notwithstanding the commissary privilege, purchased many articles 
in the cities of Panama and Colon. 

Business conditions in general have not been very good for some 
time, and there has been much discussion of the conditions that will 
obtain after the canal is opened. If Panama should become a free 
port it would of necessity become a great distributing center for 
Pacific ports both north and south that would not be called at by 
through steamers. A large- trade in ship supplies will also be built up. 
































































































SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS, 


25 


Imports of canned goods are shown in the following table: 


From— 


Germany. 

Austria. 

Belgium. 

China and Japan 

Spain. 

United States... 
France. 


1912. 

First 9 
months, 
1912. 

$114,195 

$28,533 
1,420 
3,674 
7,929 
15,193 
178,102 
32,578 

6,617 
12, 875 
18,932 
297,946 
33,000 


From— 

1912. 

First 9 
months, 
1912. 

Great Britain. 

$273, 777 
1,152 

$249,370 

1,630 

Spanish America. 

Italy. 

23.358 

22.358 

14' 297 

Denmark. 

23; 566 


Total. 

804,210 

556,292 



A table giving detailed import statistics for 1911 follows: 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Values. 

Sardines: 

Germany. 

$9,994 
1,570 
5,565 
1,632 
1,086 
10,603 

Belgium. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Total. 

30,450 

Canned meats, all kinds: 

Germany. 

6,046 
2,012 
10,000 
11.150 
137,985 
17,325 
26,970 
6,283 
341 

Belgium. 

China and Japan. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Spanish America. 

Total. 

218,112 

Preserved and condensed milk: 

Germany. 

89,712 
2,477 
18,887 
266 
162,144 
12,026 
800 

Belgium. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britian. 

Italy . 

Spanish America. 

Total. 

286,312 

Butter: 

Germany. 

6,595 
319 
22,358 
11,098 
365 
21,722 
1,668 

Belgium. 

Denmark. 

United States. 

France . 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

64,125 

Oleomargarin: 

Germany. 

1,810 



Articles and countries of origin. 


Values. 


Oleomargarin—Continued. 

Belgium. 

United States. 

Great Britain. 


$218 
21,557 
30,004 


Total 


53,589 


Canned fruits and jams: 

Germany. 

China and Japan... 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Italy.... 

Spanish America... 


32 
1,677 
495 
8,286 
833 
14,291 
594 
11 


Total 


26,219 


Canned vegetables: 
China and Japan 

Spain. 

United States... 
Great Britain 


456 

19 

12,623 
3,287 


Total 


16,385 


Olive oil: 

Germany.... 

Belgium. 

Spain. 

United States 

France. 

Great Britain. 
Italy. 


6 
21 
1.703 
83,779 
13,125 
165 
2,313 


Total 


101,112 


Sauces: 

China and Japan. 

United States_ 

Great Britain_ 

Italy.. 


742 

2,099 

4,591 

474 


Total 


7,906 


PARAGUAY. 

The annual imports of canned goods into Paraguay amount to 
about $150,000 American currency, of which the United States sup¬ 
plies probably 15 to 20 per cent. The trade is growing, though the 
purchasing class is small. There are no canneries in the country and 


































































































































26 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


therefore no exports. The imports consist of salmon, sardines, 
herrings, and other fish; peaches, pears, plums, apricots, raisins, 
currants, and prunes; peas, beans, tomatoes, and asparagus; break¬ 
fast foods; biscuits, cake, and plum pudding; condensed and malted 
milk, and meats. 

There is little demand for canned meats, as fresh meat is plentiful. 
Salmon is imported mainly from the United States and Great Britain, 
and the sardines and other fish come from France, Spain, and Italy. 
In all Latin America the people are fond of sardines and other fish 
preserved in sauces of various kinds in place of olive oil alone. 
Tomato sauce is a favorite, and another is “escabeche,” which is made 
by adding vinegar, pepper, salt, and spices to the hot oil in which the 
fish have been cooked. 

American canned fruits are considered the best and find a ready 
sale, but jams and marmalades are largely imported from Great 
Britain, and some fruit in glass comes from France and Spain and 
finds a steady limited sale for celebrations and feast days. 

The trade in canned fruits could be increased by establishing direct 
relations between some American exporter of fruits, not a jobber, and 
some importer in Asuncion who would look out for the trade in 
Paraguay. Canned fruits should be labeled “In their own juice,” 
preferably in Spanish, as there are two classifications on canned fruit, 
one being “Fruits in their own juice” and the other “Fruits in 
sirup.” On the former the customs valuation is $0.25 Argentine gold 
per kilo (10.9 cents United States currency a pound), with duty of 
‘35 per cent on this valuation, while on fruits in sirup the customs 
valuation is $0.50 Argentine gold per kilo (21.9 cents United States 
currency a pound), with duty of 55 per cent on the valuation. In 
short, the cfuty on fruit in its own juice is 3.8 cents United States 
currency a pound, whereas the duty on fruit in sirup is 12 cents a pound. 
Spanish" canned fruits always specify on the label whether the fruit 
is preserved in its own juice or in sirup. Invoices should indicate 
the same. 

Peas and beans are imported almost entirely from France, and the 
importers state frankly, that they consider them superior to the 
American article. In most cases, however, they are not familiar with 
American canned vegetables other than asparagus and tomatoes. 
American asparagus has a very good sale and is well liked, though the 
public prefers a long asparagus. In the case of one shipment of 
asparagus tips, which were ordered by the importer without knowing 
what asparagus tips were, practically the entire shipment is still on 
the shelves unsold after being in stock six months. Italian tomatoes 
sell better than American, the consumer feeling that he gets more 
tomato and less juice with the Italian article. Tomato sauce has a 
good sale, but tomato catsup is practically unknown. 

American breakfast foods in cans have a reputation for spoiling 
and becoming wormy. The eggs from which the worms hatch must 
be in the food before it is put into the air-tight cans. Samples of 
different foods examined in different stores all showed some spoilage 
of this kind. One importer complained to the manufacturer of a 
well-known breakfast food, and was told in reply that the goods were 
made to be sold, not to be kept on the shelf. It should be remembered 
that on account of the distance from the manufacturer an importer 
in any line of business in Paraguay must carry several times the stock 
that a merchant in the United States would. 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


27 


Biscuits in tin come mainly from France, Great Britain, and Spain, 
and are nearly all fancy biscuit put up in especially attractive pack¬ 
ages and the trade in them is not large. Cake and plum pudding 
come from Great Britain and the sales are limited to the foreign 
population. 

Condensed milk is supplied by Switzerland and Saxony, though 
there is some of the American product also on sale. The latter is 
not considered as good as the Swiss and Saxon milk, as it is said to 
discolor and become lumpy. There might be some sale for the un¬ 
sweetened American article if it were known. Malted milk is im¬ 
ported from Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, and the United 
States, and the American article is as well liked as any of the others. 
The annual sales of malted and condensed milk are not large. Canned 
corn and canned pork and beans are not known among the Para¬ 
guayans, as vegetables are plentiful and cheap in and near the larger 
towns. These fresh vegetables, however, are not of the highest qual¬ 
ity, as they receive little or no cultivation. 

Some swellage is noted in the stocks of canned goods, mostly in 
fruits and salmon, but importers state that there is less trouble in 
this respect with American goods than those from any other source. 
Paraguay has a very warm climate in summer and canned goods 
will keep only about a year, when the dealers unload at almost any 
price. 

The trade in canned goods could be increased considerably by 
sending to Paraguay a personal representative who has been at work 
in Argentina. The trip can be made up and back in two weeks, in¬ 
cluding a stay of a week, and at a cost, including all expenses, of $125 
American currency. 

PERU. 

There are no canning factories in Peru, and while considerable 
quantities of canned goods are imported, probably not more than 10 
per cent of the population of 3,600,000 are consumers of canned goods. 
The Indian population, which forms the major portion of the total, 
lives on dried and frozen potatoes, dried beans, maize, and dried 
mutton. 

The imports of canned goods in 1913, exclusive of the port of Iqui- 
tos, for which detailed figures w T ere not available, amounted to 
$493,235, of which the United States supplied $125,234. Imports of 
canned and preserved foods through the port of Iquitos amount an¬ 
nually to about $350,000, of which the United States furnishes about 
25 per cent. 

The United States leads in preserved fish, shellfish, and vegetables 
in oil or water; in canned meats; in canned fruits in water, brandy, 
sirup, or their own juice; and in canned ham. According to the 1912 
statistics, the United States is second only to Great Britain as a 
source of condensed milk. Italy leads in olive oil, in tin or glass, 
and other food oils; in sauces, mostly tomato; and in escabeche (fish 
or game in a vinegar sauce). Great Britain leads in jams, marma¬ 
lades, sweets, and candies, in extract of beef, and in condensed or 
preserved milk. Germany leads in butter, and in fish in tin, earthen¬ 
ware, and glass. Portugal leads in olives hi vinegar or brine in con¬ 
tainers other than barrels and in sardines in tin. 

American canned goods are in evidence in all of the groceries and 
restaurants, and many of the stores feature them, particularly canned 


28 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


meats, fruits, and vegetables. The window displays are good and 
very attractive. Sales of canned goods increase steadily from year 
to year, notwithstanding the abundance of fresh vegetables, fruits, 
and meat. Peru for many years to come will be essentially a mining 
country, and the bulk of the canned goods will continue to be sold 
in the mining and rubber districts. 

After paying duties, landing and warehouse charges, freight hand¬ 
ling, and delivery, goods cost the importer 50 to 60 per cent over the 
price f. o. b. in the country of origin. Two concrete cases copied 
from the original invoices are given herewith. The first is a ship¬ 
ment of canned goods from San Francisco to Callao to Cerro de 
Pasco, and the costs were as follows: 


259 cases, weight 13,814.15 pounds, cost f. o. b. San Francisco. $1, 240. 20 

Consular invoices. 12. 50 

Full iron straps, at $0.05 each. 12. 95 

Freight San Francisco to Callao, 339 cubic feet. 85. 60 

State tolls. .45 


C. i. f. Callao. 1,351. 70 


Customhouse duties. 547. 45 

Municipal tax.. 10.14 

Customhouse documents. .88 

Steamer landing charge. 10. 51 

Pier landing charge, dues. 14. 27 

Closing and repairing cases. 7. 56 

Loading on cars. 25. 21 

Clearance expense. 37. 81 

Freight to Cerro de Pasco, at $33.7866 per short ton. 233. 37 


Total cost at Cerro de Pasco. 2,238.90 


Callao to Oroya, via Panama, as follows: 

138 packages, weight 8,348.9 pounds, cost f. o. b. New York. $724. 82 

Freight New York to Callao, via Panama. 54.15 

Customhouse duties. 258. 60 

Municipal tax. 4. 79 

Warehousing. .51 

Inventory dues. 5. 26 

Customhouse documents. 3.94 

Steamer landing charge. 6. 42 

Pier landing dues. 8. 39 

Closing and repairing cases. 3.11 

Loading on cars. 12. 65 

Clearance expense. 18. 98 

Freight to Oroya, at $22.1315 per short ton. 92. 39 


Totak. 1,194.01 

There is considerable loss in canned goods from swellage. This is 


particularly true of canned salmon and canned vegetables and is due 
to the trip through the Tropics and then to high altitudes where the 
climate is very cold. In the coast tows there is not so much difficulty 
from this cause. There is also some loss from theft en route, and it 
is advisable that all cases should be strapped with full iron straps. 
Some exporters also use wire with seals and other safety devices to 
show, whether a case has been tampered with or not. Strapping also 
reduces the number of broken and damaged cases from handling. 

There is no national pure-food law in Peru. The larger munici¬ 
palities have local ordinances on the subject, and in Lima the Insti- 





































SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


29 


tute of Hygiene is doing good work in analyzing food products and 
waters. The chemical laboratory of the customhouse in Callao is 
well equipped, with a competent chemist in charge, and while the 
analyses made here are primarily to determine the classification for 
the imposition of duties, yet the Government reserves the right to 
reject shipments of food products in bad condition. The same ruling 
applies to food products containing preservatives prejudicial to health. 
Where consular invoices do not clearly state or specify the purity of 
olive oil or lard, or where unaccompanied by a pure-rood certificate, 
the rate of duty for other food oils or for compound lard is imposed 
until analysis can be made. The penalty for false classification is a 
heavy fine. 

Most imports of canned goods are made through manufacturers' 
agents. Importing by the importer for his own account should be 
encouraged, and there is a growing sentiment in favor of business on 
this basis. Importers in general are looking toward much closer 
business relationship with the United States upon the opening of the 
Panama Canal, and there is no doubt that Peru will benefit largely 
under the new conditions. But the United States should grant longer 
terms of credit, as many times purchases are made in Europe on ac¬ 
count of long credit rather than on account of any particular prefer¬ 
ence for the goods. European producers of canned goods also cater 
more to local taste in certain lines of canned goods, particularly in 
jams and marmalades, canned fish and game in sauces, a~d tomato 
paste or sauce. 

Imports of canned goods by countries for 1910 and imports for 
1912, exclusive of the port of Iquitos, and prices for canned goods are 
given herewith: 


Articles and sources. 


Olive oil in tin or glass: 

Germany. 

Belgium. 

Chile. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Panama. 

China. 

Portugal. 

Total.. 


Other food oils: 
Germany.... 

Chile. 

Spain. 

United States 
Great Britain. 
Hongkong.... 
Italy.. 

Total.. 


Olives in oil or stuffed: 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Italy. 

Portugal. 

Total. 


Olives in vinegar or brine, in wood: 

Spain. 

United States. 


Values. 

Articles and sources. 

Values. 

8791 

Olives in vinegar or brine, in wood—Con. 
France. 

$20 

23 

Hongkong. 

813 

39 

Portugal. 

18 

1,999 

116 


Total. 

1,091 

2,497 
296 
28,671 

4 


Olives in vinegar or brine, other containers: 
Germany. 

36 

Spain. 

752 

5 

United States. 

23 

1,501 

France.. 

212 

Great Britain 

196 

35,942 

Hongkong. 

1 

Italy 

10 

24 


China. 

539 

Portugal. 

1,407 


3 

476 

Total. 

2,661 


8 
59 
932 
14,778 

Preserved fish, shell fish, and vegetables, 
in oil or water: 

Germany. 

6,426 
375 

Belgium. 

16,795 

Chile. 

403 

Spain. 

2,748 
59,124 
14,052 
6,003 


United States. 

16 

129 

110 

16 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Hongkong. 

9,600 

Italy. 

3,725 

1,667 

4 

Japan. 

16 

Panama. 

287 

Bolivia. 

39 

China. 

185 



2,846 


Portugal. 

232 

Total. 

107,197 

8 

























































































30 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS 


Articles and sources. 


Values. 


Canned meats: 
Germany.... 

Belgium. 

Chile. 

Spain. 

United States 

France. 

Great Britain. 
Hongkong... 

Italy. 

Panama. 

Bolivia. 

Ecuador. 

Uruguay. 

Brazil. 

China. 

Portugal. 


$3,067 
242 
137 
415 
40, 452 
12,052 
11,355 
3,450 
3,949 

23 

1 

1 

15 

211 

4,223 


Total 


79,599 


Jams, marmalades, sweets, and candies: 

Germany. 

Belgium.. 

Chile.. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France... 

Great Britain. 

Hongkong. 

Italy. 

Japan. 

Panama. 

Ecuador. 

Uruguay. 

Argentina. 

Brazil.. 

China.. 

Portugal. 


6,255 
224 
94 
406 
8,429 
14,137 
27,051 
422 
11,075 
5 
24 
7 
15 
18 
387 
1 
53 


Total 


68,603 


Pickles, sauces, and escabeche, not in bar¬ 
rels: 

Germany. 

361 

Chile...!!. 

88 

Spain. 

54 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

935 

342 

4,677 

Hongkong. 

1,582 

Italy. 

2i; 992 
1 

Panama. 

China. 

18 

Portugal. 

1,118 


Total. 

31,166 


Fruits in water, brandy, sirup, or own 
juice: 

Germany. 

387 

Belgium. 

104 

Chile. 

1,885 

Spam. 

1,050 

United States. 

14,237 

2,430 

1,210 

1,292 

France.. 

Great Britain. 

Hongkong. 

Italy...... 

1 ,245 
6 

Japan. 

Panama. 

21 

Ecuador. 

1 

Uruguay. 

23 

Argentina. 

1 

China..".. 

27 

Portugal. 

99 


Total. 

24,018 



Articles and sources. 


Extract of beef: 

Germany. 

Chile. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Canned ham: 

Germany. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Condensed or preserved milk: 

Germany. 

Belgium. 

Chile. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Hongkong. 

Italy_. 

Uruguay. 

Portugal. 

Total. 

Butter in any container: 

Germany. 

Belgium. 

Chile. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain.. 

Hongkong. 

Italy. 

Panama. 

Ecuador. 

Uruguay.. 

Denmark. 

Portugal... 

Total. 

Fish, in tin, earthenware, or glass: 

Germany. 

Chile. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Hongkong. 

Italy. 

Japan. 

China. 

Portugal. 

Total. 

Sardines in tin: 

Germany. 

Belgium. 

Chile. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Portugal. 

Total. 

Grand total. 


Values. 


$297 

8 

51 

150 

305 

81 


892 


474 

1,564 

7 

1,139 

211 


3,395 


47,857 
14,060 
32 
8,897 
6, 485 
66,083 
333 
3,039 
4 

96 


146.886 


18,835 
711 
284 
427 
8,010 
3,546 
62 
10,205 
20 
3 

1,607 

136 

15 


43,861 


17,895 

3 

6 

112 
18 
599 
2,589 
552 
1,160 
36 
93 


23,063 


18,658 
10,923 
83 

20,306 
5,833 
3,144 
8,731 
1,198 
33,995 


102,871 
688,327 











































































































































































SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


31 


Retail prices of canned goods in Lima are shown in the following: 
table: 



Prices. 


Prices. 

Spanish fruits in sirup.Impound bottle.. 

California fruits, best.2-pound tin 

Chilean fruits, not best.do 

Preserved Spanish cherries, seeded, 
1-pound tin. 

$0.97 

.39 

.29 

.58 

0.50-.60 

.15-. 25 
.07-. 15 
.07-. 11 

Sardines..tin.. 

$0.15- .50 

.58 

.49 

.40 

1.10-1.20 
1.50 
.20- .50 
.40 

Lunch tongues: 

English, in tin.pound.. 

American, in tin.do_ 

Tomatoes, American.2^-pound tin.. 

Asparagus: 

American.large tin.. 

German.do_ 

Peas. French. tin 

Butter. do 

Condensed milk, American, English, 

Swiss.'tin 

Olive oil, in tin.pound.. 

Olives....do.. 

Canned and corned beef.. .1-pound tin.. 



URUGUAY. 

In 1910, the latest year for which statistics are available, the 
imports of food products ol all kinds amounted to $8,000,000. The 
total imports of canned and bottled food products for the first six 
months of 1910 amounted to $567,309, of which the L T nited States 
furnished 20 per cent, although more than half of this 20 per cent 
was made up of cottonseed oil. 

Olive oil amounting to $310,842 was imported and practically all 
of it came from Italy and Spain. Italy also furnishes a large amount 
of cottonseed oil, about two-thirds as much as furnished by the 
United States. Italy furnished 115,960 pounds of tomato paste, 
valued at $13,168. Most of the pickles come from Great Britain and 
of these there were imported 42,300 pounds, valued at $3,781. The 
Spanish sardine is favored in Uruguay and the largest part of 218,250 
pounds, valued at $49,546, came from there while most of the olives 
came from the same country and amounted to 296,000 pounds, 
valued at $15,057. Fruits canned in their own juice and fruits in 
sirup were imported mainly from Italy, France, and Great Britain; 
of the total of 35,500 pounds, valued at $5,578, of this amount the 
United States furnished a negligible quantity. Canned food products, 
amounting to 160,000 pounds and valued at $32,300, were imported 
principally from Spain, France, and Italy in the order named; the 
United States supplied about 8 per cent. Of canned vegetables, 
amounting to 33,890 pounds, valued at $4,521, the United States 
furnished 10 per cent and the remainder came from Spain, France, 
and Italy. Condensed and malted milk amounting to 25,800 pounds, 
valued at $2,637, was imported; most of the condensed milk came 
from Great Britain and Germany and the malted milk Irom Belgium 
and Germany. The United States furnished 15 to 20 per cent of the 
condensed and malted milk. 

Fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables are plentiful and cheap in the 
Uruguayan markets. Beef and mutton are staple articles of diet, 
and the per capita consumption is probably as large as in Great 
Britain. Fresh meats sell for 9 to 19 cents United States currency 
a pound; 12 cents is the average. American canned meats can not 
compete with the fresh article nor with the domestic canned article. 

No vegetables are canned locally, though a small amount of fruit is 
canned when the local crop of fresh fruit exceeds the demand. This 
is an infant industry, as the latest figures show that the production 
does not exceed 10,000 cases of fruit per year. The fruit canned in 

























32 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


Uruguay does not compare with the best American products, nor are 
the containers so attractive. Several brands of American canned 
fruits are on sale in Uruguay, but the trade is limited to a small class 
that can afford to purchase luxuries. The duty on fruits canned in 
their own juices is much lower than on fruits put up in sirup. 

Canned corn and canned pork and beans are not known, and it is 
possible that some trade could be built, but it would require mis¬ 
sionary work and demonstration. The canned vegetables consumed 
are mostly peas, string beans, and asparagus. European peas and 
beans are preferred, while American asparagus is recognized as su¬ 
perior, though the people like a long asparagus, not less than 9 or 10 
inches in length, and preferably put up in glass. 

The fruits consumed are usually peaches, pears, and apricots, and 
some pineapples and cherries are also sold. The canned pineapples 
come from Brazil and from Singapore; the Porto Rican article should 
be able to compete, as there are two lines of Spanish steamers that 
touch ports in Porto Rico on the voyage to Uruguay and other parts 
of South America. The imported canned peaches, pears, apricots, 
and cherries purchased from Italy, France, and Great Britain cost the 
importer a little less than the American article when put up in tin, 
but retail for about the same price. There is a small and steady sale 
for French and Spanish fruits in glass; the French particularly put 
up an attractive glass container filled with mixed fruits. The Euro¬ 
peans also put up oval pound and half-kilo cans of fruit, of which 
many are sold to people who can not afford to buy the larger cans. 
The fruit is not so good as the best American product, the tin used 
is thinner and of poorer quality, and there is more loss from swellage 
and blowholes in the European article than in the American. 

Practically all the sardines come from Spain and France. Other 
canned fish sell well, but aside from salmon and herring, they are 
usually varieties that are not canned in the United States. American 
salmon is well liked, unless it be pink salmon, but the bulk of the 
salmon comes from Great Britain. Other canned fish and sardines 
are popular when put down in tomato, mushroom, and other sauces. 
This taste is not local, but applies to other countries in South America 
and should be taken into consideration by American fish canners. 
Some importers claim that the tall can for salmon is preferred, while 
others are strong advocates of the flat can. 

American pickles in glass should compete with the British product 
more than they do. The importers have purchased for so many 
years from C. & E. Morton and Crosse & Blackwell that it has become 
a habit with them. 

Following are wholesale prices of some of the canned goods sold: 


Articles. 

Per dozen. 

Articles. 

Per dozen. 

Asparagus, French. 

$6.50-$8. 40 

Mixed pickles, British.... 

$4.00 

4.20 

4.80 

String beans, French. 

4.80- 5.50 

Oysters, American.... 

Peas, French: 

Salmon, British. 

Extra fine. 

Ordinary. 

5.40 

3.60 

Sardines, French: 

La Reine, large cans. 

5.80 

3.90 

Tomatoes, Spain, small can. 

1.50 

Amieux. 

Catsup, American, pint bottle... 

2. 40 

Lobsters, British. 

9.00 

Tomato paste, Italian, half-pound can. 
Capers, French. 

1.50 

Shrimp, American. 

4.80 

2. 40 

Apricots,pears, and peaches, American 
Peaches, domestic. 

7.20-8.40 

Mushrooms, French, half-kilo jars. 

8.40 

3.60 

6.00 

10.50 

Olives, Spanish, best quality, pint 
bottles. 

4.00 

Pineapples, Singapore. 

Cherries, Italian, m glass. .. 































SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


33 


VENEZUELA. 

In canned goods sold in Venezuela, Germany leads in only one 
article—butter. As Danish butter is in great favor in Venezuela, 
and as Denmark does not figure in the statistics on imports, a large 
proportion of the butter may be accredited to Denmark. The 
United States holds second place in butter, although most of the 
American butter goes to the cheaper trade, as the quality is inferior 
and the packing not so attractive. 

e The United States leads in preserved foods of class three, classifica¬ 
tion of the customhouse, which includes canned meats and fish of all 
kinds with or without vegetables, canned sausages, pickles, and canned 
corn, and in cottonseed oil. 

Spain and Germany lead in supplying sardines, the United States 
furnishing only $4,427 worth of a total of $252,982. The Spanish 
sardine is of good quality and reasonable in price, while it is said of 
the American sardine that its only recommendation is the price. 
Olive oil is imported chiefly from Spain and Italy. Information 
received indicates that Venezuela will make an effort to obtain olive 
oil direct from California after the opening of the Panama Canal. 

France leads in preserved foods of class four, in which are included 
asparagus, canned fruits, canned mushrooms, and canned vegetables, 
although the total imported amounted to only $4,548. The imports 
under this^heading consist largely of fancy fruits in glass, peas in glass, 
string beans in glass, and assorted vegetables in glass. The French 
article is extremely attractive, and the fact that some of the fruits 
and vegetables are artificially colored and flavored does not affect 
their sale, as there is no pure-food law in force in Venezuela. 

Great Britain supplies more sauces and pickles. than all other 
countries combined and also leads in jams anid jellies. Condensed 
milk also comes mainly from Great Britain; the cheaper grades of 
American condensed milk can compete in price, but do not keep 
well in the tropical climate. The American unsweetened milk keeps 
better, but outside of the Maracaibo district its introduction in com¬ 
petition with the sweetened milk, for which a taste has been formed, 
has not been successful to any extent. The best grades of American 
condensed milk keep well and are richer in fat than the European 
brands, but the price is prohibitive in competition with the European 
article. 

The Maracaibo district is so distinct from the rest of Venezuela, 
through its isolation, and is so rapidly growing in importance that it 
merits special attention. The exports in 1912 amounted to $8,544,188 
or over one-third of the total for the entire Republic, while the 
imports amounted to $4,536,267. The exports to the United States 
amounted to $6,111,969, or almost 75 per cent of the total, while the 
imports from the United States amounted to $1,819,438. 

Enormous deposits of petroleum have been discovered that are to 
be developed at once under favorable concessions, and this develop¬ 
ment will of necessity force in turn the development of the harbor at 
Maracaibo, which is shallow and obstructed by a bar at the entrance 
that does not permit the entry of vessels drawing over 11 feet of 
water. The opening of the harbor will rapidly make of Maracaibo 
the largest and most important city in Venezuela. 


34 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 


At the present time, outside of the Venezuelan coastwise steamers, 
there is only one line of steamers entering Maracaibo and it has three 
small boats to handle the trade. This line is American. Freight for 
Maracaibo coming in other steamers is all transshipped at Curacao by 
steamers of the American line above mentioned or by schooners 
plying between Curacao and Maracaibo. 

Maracaibo not only supplies three States in western Venezuela but 
also two rich districts of eastern Colombia, Cucuta, and Santander*. 
Very few American traveling representatives work either western 
Venezuela or eastern Colombia, which is a great mistake. 

Fully two-thirds of the canned goods imported through Maracaibo 
comes from the United States and consists of meats, vegetables, and 
fruits; even a trade in canned corn is being developed, an article that 
is not yet popular in South America. Most of the olives come from 
Spain, though some of the fancy varieties from the United States are 
growing in favor with the people who can afford to buy them. Sar¬ 
dines come mainly from Spain. The poorer classes are buying 
increasing quantities of American sardines, as the price places them 
in reach of this class and some of the importers are pushing them. 
Condensed milk comes mainly from Great Britain at present, though 
formerly most of it was imported from the United States. This 
trade was lost through the introduction from other sources of cheaper 
brands that would keep in the Tropics. A small trade has been 
built up in unsweetened milk and the importers introducing it are 
working hard to gain a foothold. It keeps well and is satisfactory in 
every way and more missionary work should be done along this line. 
Pickles come mainly from France; an attractive 4-ounce bottle of 
mixed pickles retails for 10 to 12 cents and is popular with a class of 
people that can not afford to buy the larger English and American 
bottles. Moreover, the bottle gives the impression that it is larger 
than it really is; it is of dark green but clear glass, quite thick, about 
6 inches in length, wide mouthed, and tapers to the bottom. French 
fruits in small packages, both tin and glass, are popular because they 
reach a poorer class of people than the large packages. The cost of 
goods laid down in importers’ warehouses is from 100 to 200 per cent 
over the cost f. o. b. New York or European ports; freight rates are 
slightly in favor of shipments from the United States. Importers 
generally enjoy four months’ credit from the date of invoices on im¬ 
ports from the United States and from six to eight months on im¬ 
ports from Europe. Some of the importers prefer to take advantage 
of cash discounts and prefer direct importation where possible. Im¬ 
porters wholesale on a credit limit of four months and collections are 
reported good. No complaint as to American packing was heard, and 
relations with American exporters generally were reported satisfactory. 
The only complaint received was that American representatives often 
skip Maracaibo. 

Freight rates from the coast to the interior are also high. The 
harbor railroad at La Guaira charges $0,175 per hundredweight to 
carry freight from steamers to the customhouse, a distance cf about 
half a mile. The freight from La Guaira to Caracas on canned goods 
is $0.35 per hundredweight. In short, the freight from steamer to 
Caracas is $10.50 per ton with double handling for a distance of 50 
miles. The freight rates from Puerto Cabello to Valencia are $0.30 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS. 35 

per hundredweight. Practically no freight goes from Puerto Cabello 
to Caracas, as the freight rate is prohibitive. 

Outside of Maracaibo credits run from 60 days to 4 months for 
imports from the United States, while 6 months is the usual term 
allowed by European houses. Importers selling to local and country 
merchants.are compelled to extend 6, 8, and 10 months’ credit. Col¬ 
lections are fair, but slow, and additional extension of time is frequent. 

Importation is both direct and through commission houses, 
although importers prefer to import direct where feasible. Small 
orders through four or five different exporters are purchased with less 
difficulty through commission houses. 

The business in canned goods in Venezuela is confined to a small 
percentage of the total population of 2,500,000. Probably not more 
than 10 per cent can be termed consumers of canned goods, though 
the peon class is disposed to buy any articles that limited purses can 
afford. Probably not more than 1 or 2 per cent are habitual con¬ 
sumers of canned goods of all kinds. Fresh meat and vegetables are 
abundant and cheap, and fruit is reasonable, but milk is high in price, 
retailing for 10 to 12 cents per quart in most places. 

American canned fruits retail for from 50 to 70 cents per 2^-pound 
can. Importers in Venezuela are waiting for the opening of thePanama 
Canal with keen interest, as they feel that a direct trade in canned 
goods from the Pacific coast can be developed. Importers in general 
are anxious to extend their relations with American houses. All 
correspondence should be in Spanish. 

A table of imports by countries for 1912 follows: 


Articles anc} countries of origin. 


Values. 


Sardines: 

Germany. 

Belgium. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Netherlands. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Preserved foods (Class III) 

Germany... 

Spain.- 

United States. 

France. 

Netherlands. 

Great Britian. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Preserved foods (Class IV) 

Germany. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Netherlands. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Butter: 

Germany. 

Spain. 

United States. 

France. 

Netherlands. 


$81,876 
25,424 
82,854 
4,427 
11,233 
38,743 
8,241 
184 


252,982 


20,023 

4,044 

95,065 

15,284 

10,090 

16,332 

17,232 


178,070 


395 

97 

863 

,666 

128 

755 

644 


4,548 


167,876 

1 

156,909 
47,445 
33,752 


Articles and countries of origin. 


Butter—Continued. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

Vinegar: 

Germany.. 

Spain. 

United States.. 

France.. 

Netherlands.. 

Great Britain. 

Total.‘. 

Prepared foods and sauces (Class IV) 

Germany. 

Belgium. 

Spain. 

United States.. 

France. 

Netherlands. 

Great Britain.. 

Italy.. 

Total.. 

Olive oil: 

Germany. 

Austria-Hungary. 

Belgium.. 

Spam... 

United States. 

France. 

Netherlands.. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total.... 


Values. 


$4,332 

1,000 


411,315 


611 

66 

20 

348 

1,318 

215 


2,578 


9,045 
3,474 
619 
5,634 
10,139 
1,375 
15,143 
1,745 

47,174 


2,800 

7,316 

1,805 

109,307 

729 

9,751 

5,382 

4,054 

62,502 


203,646 




























































































36 


SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE IN CANNED GOODS 


Articles and countries of origin. 

Value. 

Olives and capers: 

Germany. 

$918 

13,337 

840 

5,072 

887 

1,379 

408 

Spain .." . 

United States. 

France. 

Netherlands. 

Great Britain. 

Italy. 

Total. 

22,841 



Articles and countries of origin. 

Value. 

Cottonseed oil: 

Germany. 

$33 

1,614 

United States. 

Total. 

1,647 

Grand total. 

1,124,801 



o 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 































































































